Aristide Economopoulos/The Star-LedgerAfter two practices with the team, Brendan Shanahan could play Saturday vs. the Islanders - although he'll more likely play Monday in Nashville.

NOTEBOOK

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- There is a chance that Brendan Shanahan could make his Devils debut tonight against the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum, but the veteran forward might be cautious and wait until Monday night's game in Nashville.

"Nothing is ruled out," an upbeat Shanahan said Friday. "I think it's a matter of feel. If they asked me to play (against the Blue Jackets), I could. The smartest thing is not to play. I want to make sure when I come back, (I'm ready)."

Coach Brent Sutter said of Shanahan: "I think he's had two really decent days of practice here the last two days. (Friday) we did a little more with him. When he's ready, he'll let me know. It's a day-to-day thing.

"I think every day is a possibility. Let's see what he's like in the morning and we'll get him through another practice (Saturday) and again (Sunday in Nashville) and we'll see where he's at Monday. Let's just take it day to day. I'm not putting a timetable on this whatsoever."

Shanahan will make the call.

"Absolutely," Sutter said. "He's an experienced player. He's been around the game a long time. He knows when he's right. When he knows he needs to take that next step, that next step will be to getting him into a game situation and he'll let me know when it's the right time."

Columbus goalie Steve Mason had hoped to play against Martin Brodeur when he first looked at this season's schedule.

"Yeah, he was my idol growing up," Mason said. "It would've been pretty cool playing against him. With him having surgery, it's not going to happen this year."

Mason had his boyhood room painted in Devils colors.

"Growing up my favorite team was the Devils just because of (Brodeur)," Mason said. "I had a Brodeur jersey and the colors in my room were red and white. He's had one heck of a career. If I can have half that I'll be happy."

And his playing style?

"The most important thing I took from him was puck-handling," Mason said.

Sutter said he sees some of Brodeur in Mason, whom he coached on Canada's junior team.

"He's a standup guy, but when he goes down, he goes to that spread like Marty does,'' Sutter said. "Back in the Super Series when we were talking, he mentioned he idolized Marty and that Marty was his favorite player and all that stuff. I think there are certain similarities. He can play the puck well. He's a really good puck-moving goaltender. If Marty is someone he idolizes, that's something he learned from Marty."

Petr Vrana, who suffered a broken leg in Wednesday night's AHL game against Providence, will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery Thursday. Devils GM Lou Lamoriello said the surgery was successful.